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In a speech focused on unity, the 39-year-old urged people to keep faith with him as he exuded a confidence he will be president of France in two weeks time.

Mr Macron applauded all of the other candidates, apart from Ms Le Pen.

Sky News

Emmanuel Macron gave a speech in which he signalled he was confident he will become president

He promised that as president he would protect France and transform the country into one in which every person is "treated with fairness".

He also said every person in what he hopes will be a majority government, will be new, with "new faces, new talents".

Sky

Mr Macron said he would introduce new people to his government

He added: "I will not ask those who join me where they come from but whether they should agree we should renew our political life to renew our life, to progress."

The former economic adviser to current President François Hollande called on all "patriots" to rally behind him against the threat of what he called "nationalists".

To the cheers from supporters, he said: “I want to be the president of patriots against the threat of nationalists.

Mr Macron, whose "En Marche!" party is only one year old and has never taken part in any parliamentary election, also said he would as soon as Monday work on building a parliament majority to be able to govern after legislative elections in June.